“Come, my sister!” he said to the seeress; “you are wanted here.”
Every one bent forward with eager curiosity as Karine entered. Her pallor, her precocious old age, her look of amazement, and uncertain, faltering step, caused, at first, more pity than sympathy. However, in the sight of them all, she drew herself up erect, and stood firm. Her face assumed an expression of enthusiasm and energy. She had taken off the poor gray dress, that precious rag in which she never allowed herself to sleep, from over her peasant’s dress, and her hair, white as snow, was drawn from her face and tied with red woollen cords, giving her somewhat the appearance of an ancient sibyl.
She went up to the pastor, and without waiting to be questioned, said:
“Father and friend of the afflicted, you know Karine Bœtsoi; you know that her soul is neither guilty nor deceitful. She asks you why the belfry-bell of the new chateau is tolling; what you say she will believe.”
“The belfry-bell is tolling for the dead,” replied the minister; “your ears have not deceived you. For a long time, Karine, I have known that you have a secret which oppresses you. You can speak now, and perhaps you can be cured. Baron Olaus is dead!”
“I know it,” she said; “the great iarl appeared to me last night. He said: ‘I am going away forever,’ and I felt my soul reborn. Now I will speak, because the child of the lake is going to return. I saw him, also, in my dream.”
“Do not talk about your dreams, Karine,” rejoined the minister, “but try and recall what has really happened. If you wish to recover reason and tranquillity of soul, by the grace of the Lord, make an effort yourself to be humble and submissive; for I have often told you that pride had a great deal to do with your madness: you pretend to read in the future, when you are not able, perhaps, to relate the past.”
Karine remained abashed and thoughtful for an instant, and then answered:
“If the good pastor of Waldemora, as kind and as humane as he who preceded him was ferocious and cruel, orders me to tell the past, I will tell the past.”
“I both command you and entreat you to do so,” said the pastor; “speak calmly, and remember that God weighs each one of your words.”